NOVEMBER, 7


NETCHASERS

Action / Thriller
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Reese Witherspoon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shawn Wayans
Director and Producer: J.J. Abrams
Screenwriter: Steve Connors

Box Office: 123 mill.
Net Gains: 146 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: It had to work and it has. A non-stop action show with some spectacular sequences. I wanted to say good bye to 8th Season with a major blockbuster and I have. I can’t feel but satisfied.

SYNDROME: END OF DAYS

Horror / Zombies
Cast: Ben Affleck, Paula Patton, Thomas Haden Church, Abigail Breslin, Bill Paxton, Freddie Highmore, Jordan-Claire Green
Director: Rob Cohen
Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick
Producer: Midnight Movies

Box Office: 23 mill.
Net Loss: 9 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: The box office’s difference between the first and the second Syndrome movies – losing almost half of its viewers – made me fear that this could happen with the third episode. A sad ending for this saga.

MALEFICARUM

Drama / Dark
Cast: Sean Penn, Nicole Kidman, Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Costner, Alexander Gould, Jordan-Claire Green
Director: Sofia Coppola
Screenwriter: David Makalaster

Box Office: 35 mill.
Net Loss: 10 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: My worst fears about this movie came true. One of those particularly painful flops for me, as I liked very much this production. I liked the screenplay, the director and the stars involved in it… but audiences have not liked it as much as me. Historical movies are always difficult – I have not overcome yet another painful flop, ‘1066’ – and we could not make it work in box office. Bad week… I think it is the first time ever that two CMP productions flop in the very same week…


NETCHASERS

‘An entertaining action show. JJ.Abrams and Nicholas Cage have worked together before in a spectacular production, the sci-fi adventure ‘Faction 12’, that became Season 7’s box office top 1. This one is less ambitious but not less efficient. The mixture between the action set pieces starred by Cage and Wayans and the suspense of the ‘net chasing’ moments by Witherspoon compose an engrossing show that keeps you at the edge of the seat even though you already know that the evil hacker will lose at the end. Quality entertainment at its best.’
-Alex Stampton

‘A ‘formula movie’ designed to make a tasty box office. Cast of stars, talented director and a storyline with enough classic action elements to maintain audience’s attention for a hundred minutes. A ‘can’t miss’. With reminiscences of the Die Hard saga – specially ‘Die Hard 3’, with the villain playing with Willis and Samuel L. Jackson there the same way he does here with Cage and Wayans -, and some elements also seen in CMP’s ‘Checkmate’ – here, two computers genius play a cat and mouse game the same way two chess genius played there -, the movie puts together brilliantly well known clichés of the genre to make us forget we may have seen all that before.’
-Anne Roman

‘Philip Seymour Hoffman is always efficient playing any kind of villain. And he proves again here the solid and versatile actor he is. A few weeks ago, we saw him playing the clumsy and funny friend of Dr. Jones in CMP’s ‘Dr. Jones and the Cursed Treasure’. Only a few weeks later we see him here playing a completely different character. And he makes both believable. I am also surprised that I got to believe Reese Witherspoon playing a computers genius. Meanwhile, Cage and Wayans play the routine buddies couple ala Lethal Weapon. The group works. ‘Netchasers’ can be forgotten a second after watching it but, while you are watching it, it is a great fun.’
-Roy Winslow

SYNDROME: END OF DAYS

‘Three movies are definitely too much for this simple zombies story written by Matt Kubrick. The whole story could have been perfectly told in just one single movie. So audiences have become tired of it and have not responded in box office. Sequels use to work. But this ‘to be continued’ movies are dangerous. You won’t capture new viewers from one movie to another. And too much time passes between one movie and the next one so people may lose the interest in knowing how the story ends. I.e.: who does still care about the conclusion of the ‘Cell Mates’ trilogy after so many time since the second episode was released? Same happens here. By the time this movie has been released, nobody cared anymore if Affleck and his friends survive to the zombies or not.’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Is it possible to put up a less appealing cast? Ben Affleck can be a nice guy or he can be the most irritating one. I have seen movies where I just wanted to kill him and movies I could not help feeling sympathy for him. This one joins the first category. I would have loved watching the zombies eating alive that corny couple, Affleck and Patton. This Syndrome saga has moved from an interesting first movie to an embarrassing last episode. Thank God it’s over. I would not stand another movie with all those kids – Breslin, Green, Highmore… - screaming while the zombies surround them and Church and Paxton trying to look brave and crazed while shouting ‘Leave me alone with them!’. And, after all, I get paid to watch and write about movies. Imagine if I had to do it just for fun…’
-Vic Carter

‘Not a single movie critic would dare to praise a movie like this. A zombies movie? Oh, please, I am a serious critic, I have to rip it off. Matt Kubrick loves to be provocative with his horror flicks, his exploitation shows and his deliberate B-series productions. And there are still critics that do not understand the joke inside of it all. ‘Syndrome: End Of Days’ is a horrible movie the same way ‘Blood Beach’ or even the cult ‘Damnation Road’ were. Of course it is. Even Kubrick and Cohen and Harry Stark know that. But that’s part of the fun of it. These are movies to be watched without prejudices. They look to scare you as much as they look to make you laugh at it. Personally, I can’t wait for the announced ‘Reform School Girls’…’
-Amy Ratched

MALEFICARUM

‘A perfectly manufactured movie. Quality writing, perfect historical recreation, talented direction and brilliant acting works. But… do we need to watch again a witch hunting story? I mean, we have seen it all before in big productions, tv-movies or tv series. It doesn’t matter Salem or North Berwick. It’s always the same: fanatical authorities, innocent woman accused of being a witch, desperate relatives of the victim trying to claim her innocence… ‘Maleficarum’ follows step by step all those clichés. Yes, it is a very well made movie. But there’s absolutely nothing new in it.’
-Lily Stevens

‘Somebody wrote about the past GMA’s edition that the Best Actress statue had the name of Jena Malone in it from the very beginning. Same thing could be said here about Nicole Kidman. Her character seems to be designed to win an award. It has it all. Moving moments, deep drama moments, dramatic suffering moments… And Kidman plays them all with extreme brilliance. It is her splendorous acting work what saves this predictable – and at some moments, boring – major production from disaster. Together with her, Penn closes a great Season for him, after his wonderful work in ‘The Funeral Drum’, demonstrating here again why he deserves to be considered one of the best actors of our days’.
-Tim Reeve

‘Harry Stark had wanted for long to have Sofia Coppola directing a CMP’s movie. The shame is that, once she has finally entered into the CMP’s world, she has chosen this movie to do it. Coppola is an innovative and daring moviemaker. She turned into a masterpiece the most simple story ever in ‘Lost In Translation’. She revisited history recreating in a controversial way the figure of French Queen Marie Antoinette. And then, when she comes to CMP, she surprisingly decides to tell us a witch trial story in the most classic way. No innovation, no risks, nothing new under the sun. There is a lot of quality put into this movie but revisiting known materials need some additions of any sense – directing or production design style or twists in the plot or whatever – to justify that revisit. We will still have to wait to see an interesting Sofia’s movie in CMP.’
-Chris Burguess


Hope you all had a great Halloween, whoever celebrated it. Instead of staying home to pass out candy this year, I decided to check out this week's latest releases because it's my job. This week I was able to chase a hacker around on the internet with Nicholas Cage, fend off hoards of zombies with Ben Affleck and put accused witches on trial in the dark drama, Maleficarum. Not a bad weekend for a season that didn't make too much in box office (damn everyone in the world with them saving their money while we all face economic troubles)

NETCHASERS

Philip Seymour Hoffman is on my own top ten favorite alltime actors list, so anything with him I will watch. If it wasn't for the appealing cast, I would have not glanced in the film's general direction. But then that would mean that I would miss out on a good thriller. It's the cast that makes it worthwhile as I wouldn't want to see unknowns in these roles as they would just make it a two hour CSI episode. The film really showcased Hoffman's abilities to play a great villain but the plot I didn't feel was as strong as Abrams/Cage 'Faction 12' but above all else, it was worth a viewing or two.
ACTING/CAST: 7/10 Hoffman's villainous performance saved a lower score
DIRECTING: 5.5/10
WRITING: 6/10
CONCEPT: 5.5/10
RE-WATCH VALUE: 7/10
SEE IT? Like I said, it's worth a viewing or two. But most people have just been watching thrillers mostly at home in the CMP universe. Take your buds, but if you prefer going alone, more power to ya.
OVERALL: 6.5/10

SYNDROME: END OF DAYS

Ah, this is the kind of Kubrick horror I really enjoy. Zombie survival horror. So I guess Amber never made it? she wasn't there when the heroes appeared from the carnage at the end. If she didn't I am saddened because like Stephen I too wanted her to be my daughter. If she did I would be happy. As for the rest of the film, it was a great series even if all the movies involved a continuous war with zombies. It was definitely worth the viewing though for those who just love the zombie and horror genre. The perfect way to spend your Halloween night.
ACTING/CAST: 5/10 the cast is appealing, but these films are never known for GMA/Oscar worthy acting so I had to reach a compromise on that one.
DIRECTING: 3/10 It's not that hard to direct a zombie horror film. Teens making movies with their friends at home can do it.
WRITING: 5/10
CONCEPT: 5.5/10
RE-WATCH VALUE: 10/10
SEE IT: Yes. Particularly if you're a fan of the entire series, it's just necessary to see it reach its conclusion. Bring your friends and if you have a girlfriend who drools over horror films as much as you do, bring her, but try not to go yourself unless you just prefer it that way.
OVERALL: 6.5/10 Great series but the first two as most film series' were a little bit stronger than this one.

MALEFICARUM

I was sitting there thinking to myself 'this is a Sofia Coppola film?' Not to say she's a bad director, but this was a film that shows she's not just living in her father's shadows and she can steer a film of this magnitude on her own. She was able to take elements from genres she's already experimented with (drama, historical, dark) and bake them together in an award worthy piece. David Makalaster proves he is a force to be reckoned with, a talented mature screenwriter who can make us laugh in the Metal, keep us on the edge of our seats in 3's and 7's and make us cry in Maleficarum. One of his best works to date. He proves that Josh Collins isn't the only one who can write interesting female characters as he did with Ilene.
ACTING/CAST: 9/10 not a weak link in anyone
DIRECTING: 10/10
WRITING: 9.5/10
CONCEPT: 10/10 I've always liked the historic witch trials of the places like North Berwick and Salem.
RE-WATCH VALUE: 4/10 Definitely a film for people who appreciate the art in films. But the average moviegoer would probably want to watch Syndrome 10 times before watching this more than once.
SEE IT: If you truly do enjoy the art of cinema, you better. Take it all in yourself or hell if your girlfriend gets squeamish at violent bloody horror films, this too is a great date movie to watch on Halloween without all the gore. And it'll make her cry and feel smart.
OVERALL: 9/10 just magnificent!